Ultimaker 3

[This webcam feature is not working but it could be if anyone wants it.] During (and after) operation you can see the Ultimaker's progress through its built-in webcam at ultimaker.hackrva.org

The Ultimaker 3 is a dual extrusion thermoplastics 3d printer capable of working with a variety of materials. We only use the left extruder, extruder 1. The other head is damaged, and it is not worth it to replace it.

Ultimaker has very good documentation on their website and also provide a pdf user manual for the Ultimaker 3.

Ultimaker 3 Use

We supply Printed Solid Jessie filament. It uses 2.85 mm filament, not the thin kind used by the Prusa. No glue, tape, or other adhesion tricks are needed. Just clean the glass if needed. The Jessie sticks great while printing and releases easily when cool.

Remove the glass print bed from the machine before attempting to remove prints from the print bed.

Follow Ultimaker's instructions for loading/unloading filament and installing/removing print cores.

It is essential that the correct filament is selected in Cura to match what is in the Ultimaker. That sets the temperature and other parameters. If it is wrong, it can cause serious damage! The filament should be labeled on the side of its reel. If not, don't use it.

Please read through Ultimaker's safety information for the Ultimaker 3.

What do I do if a print fails?

If your print fails, abort it on the Ultimaker 3 or via Cura software and then follow the build removal directions. The Ultimaker will ask if you want to retry. If you say NO it will ask if the print is removed. If there are other prints in the queue, it will try to do those.

Sometimes, a failure will be caused by the machine being out of level. Do not use autolevel. It will fail every time because of the bad right side head. Manual level works, but they left out a step: Tighten all 3 bed adjustment screws a few turns before you start.

If you clog a print core

Follow Ultimaker's directions for unclogging a print core. If this is successful you can continue printing. Please still post to the slack channel mentioned below so we can keep track of these things. When there is a jam, the filament will get a flat spot near the back of the machine in the feeder, and that must be clipped off before reloading the filament. Reloading is tricky. You have to lift the white button on the feeder and get the filament just visible into the tube.

If Ultimaker's directions are unsuccessful, remove the print core. If there is a replacement print core available you may install the replacement and continue printing. Put a tape tag on the clogged print core and write on the tape tag with a sharpie that it is clogged and your email address. The 3D printer maintainers will periodically make efforts to clean clogged print cores.

Post a message to the #3dprinting channel on the hack.rva Slack. Say that you clogged a print core, what steps you have taken, and what your end result is.

Software for the Ultimaker 3

The Ultimaker 3 communicates with print software via TCP/IP. It is currently on hack.rva's network by Ethernet. You can load prints to the Ultimaker 3 via Ultimaker Cura. DO NOT use Cura Lulzbot!

Material Compatibility of Ultimaker 3

The Ultimaker 3 and Cura allow the use of almost any commercially available 3D printing filament with a nominal diameter of 2.85 mm. (This is sometimes called 3 mm filament.) If you use material from other manufacturers you will need to manually inform the Ultimaker 3 what kind of filament it is when loading and ensure the proper parameters are in Cura before printing. Printed Solid sells quality filament from Ultimaker, colorFabb, taulman3D, Proto-Pasta, and NinjaFlex. Filastruder sells filament from E3D, including scaffold, a support material which dissolves in water and Edge, a high quality, easy to print material. Filastruder also sells taulman3D. Be aware that most taulman3D filament comes on smaller diameter spools than other manufacturers. These spools do not fit on the Ultimaker 3. If you want to use taulman3D filament you'll need to either manually wind it on another spool or make some kind of self-standing spool holder.

DO NOT USE ABRASIVE MATERIAL IN THE ULTIMAKER 3. This will wear the print nozzle and ruin the print core. If you are unsure, ask on the #3dprinting channel on Slack.

Build Setup

There are two types of print cores (ref):

• Type AA: for printing build materials and Ultimaker Breakaway material
• Type BB: for printing water-soluble support material

Build Removal

Remove the glass print bed from the machine before attempting to remove prints from the print bed. Allowing the print bed to cool completely will make removing prints easy.